Locking tube for loose-leaf ledgers



Oct. 23, 1923.

H. A. TULLIS LOCKING TUBE FOR LoosE LEAF LDGERS Filed Oct. 11,

INT1/'N T 0R Patented Oct. 23, 1923..

unirse stares HARLEY A. TULLIS, OF OCEAN PARK, CALFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OFONEJtALF T0 y[TOI-IN FORNIA.

MEE, BOTH OF LOS ANGELES, CALI- LOCKING TUER FOR LOOSE-LEAF LEDGERS.

Application filed October 11, 1920. Serial No. 416,160.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARLEY A. TULLIS, a citizenl of the United States, residing at Ocean Park, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Locking Tubes for Loose-Leaf Ledgers, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a locking tube for loose leaf ledgers and the like, which is provided with extremely simple and readily manipulated means for locking the tube relative to the supporting pins carrying the loose leaves.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, lin which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf construction made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. n

3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section'on the line 444 of Fig. s.

The invention is applicable to loose leaf constructions including the leaves 1 mounted between backs 2 and 3. The back 3 is provided with upwardly extending pins 4 received through apertures provided in the leaves 1. The back 2 terminates in a tube 5 adapted to be received over the pins 4.

The tube 5 is provided with openings 6 through which the pins 4 may extend and a leaf spring 7 is mounted within the tube between the pins 4. This spring is connected to the tube midway of its length as b y the rivet 8 and the ends of the spring are curved as shown at 9 and are so positioned as to engage the respective pins 4, the tension of the spring causing a clamping engagement between said spring ends and saidv pins. By this arrangement when the spring is in normal position, the tube 5 will be locked relative to pins 4.

In order to disengage the spring ends from pins 4 so that tube 5 and the plate 2 may be removed and adjusted relative to the pins1 actuating levers 10 are pivoted within tube As an instance of this arrangement pivot rods 11 may extend across tube 5 and levers 10 may be formed of strips of metal suitably punched to form bearings 12 for pivotally mounting the levers upon rods 11. One end of the metal strip forming lever 10 is arranged as a finger 12- which extends alongside one of the pins 4 and beneath an end of spring 7. The opposite end of the lever is formed as a finger plate 18 lying beneath the surface of the tube 5.

The surface of tube 5 at the finger plates 13 is of a suitable flexible material shown at 14 so that the levers 10 may be readily swung upon the pivots by pressing upon tube 5'above finger plates 13. By thus actuating levers 10, the end of springs 7 will be moved upwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 and will thus disengage pins 4. The tube 5 is then free for movement relative to pins 4.

Various changes may be made in the cony struction as thus set forth without departing from the spirit of the invention.

.Vhat is claimed is:

1. #The combination with a supporting pin for loose leaf constructions of a locking tube having Aan aperture through which said pin extends, a spring member arranged within said tube one end of which spring directly engages said pin for locking the tube, and pivoted means wholly within said tube for disengaging said spring from said pin.

2. The combination with a supporting pin for loose leaf constructions of a locking tube having a portion of its wall of flexible material and having an aperture through which said pin extends, a leaf spring carried by said tube one end of which spring normally engages said pin for locking the tube, and means beneath said flexible material for moving said spring away from said pin.

3. The combination with a supporting pin for loose leaf constructions of a locking tube having an aperture through which said pin extends, a spring arranged within said ,tube one end of which spring normally engages said pin for locking the tube, and an actuating lever wholly within said tube arrange-d to movel said spring out of enga ement with said pin, said lever having a ffnger plate for actuating the same.

4. The combination with supporting pins for loose leaf constructions, of a locking tube having apertures through which said pins exend7 leaf Spring mounted Within ing Enger plates, and Sak JLube at Said said tube With its enfls tending o engage Hates being 0 Hezibe material S0 that snif pins to 100k Said ube reatve said @Yf mf" b@ Hkmuuy @Pemtdm pins, pivot l'ods in said tube ies-ers pvoed in 'QSUITQOT Wfl'ffof have Signed my on said 'od and engaging' said spring' ends mlm@ 15h-W SPQCUCLCLOH for mowing' be latte? et of' engagement with Safl suppotngpinsj said levers hav;- H. AV. TULS. 

